Removable accessories for footwear and footwear with removable accessories

ABSTRACT

Footwear having an upper section for extending over a wearer&#39;s foot, the surface having an opening, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening, and an accessory for footwear.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/898,173, filed on Oct. 31, 2013, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Footwear, as for example flip-flops and sandals come with uppers having a a predefined design and color. If different colors or designs on the footwear are desired, a new pair of footwear is required. A system that would allow one to change at least some of the color and/or design in footwear as well as to add accessories to the footwear is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an example embodiment footwear is provided having an upper section for extending over a wearer's foot, the upper section having an opening, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening. In another example embodiment, the protrusion includes an L-shape in cross-section and the opening includes an L-shape in cross-section. In a further example embodiment, the protrusion includes a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion. The opening includes a first portion extending through an entire thickness of the upper section and a second portion extending from the opening first portion and extending partially through the thickness of the upper section, and the protrusion second portion is received into the opening second portion. In yet another example embodiment, the upper section includes an upper surface opposite a lower surface, and the opening second section extends from the lower surface and does not extend to the upper surface and the protrusion second section is generally flush with the lower surface. In a further example embodiment, the protrusion includes a bulbous shape and the opening includes a bulbous shape. In yet a further example embodiment, the footwear further includes a connector connecting the upper section to a sole, and the connector includes an opening for receiving a projection from another accessory. In another example embodiment, the another accessory projection includes a bulbous shape in cross-section. In one example embodiment, the another accessory projection includes a neck portion including a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion including a second width greater than the first width, and the connector opening includes a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, such that the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, and the fourth width is greater than the first width. In an example embodiment, the upper section is a strap. In another example embodiment, the footwear is a flip-flop.

In a further example embodiment a flip-flop is provided including a strap, a connector connecting the strap to a sole, and an accessory having a projection received in the opening. In one example embodiment, the accessory projection includes a neck portion including a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion including a second width greater than the first width, and the connector opening includes a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, such that the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, and the fourth width is greater than the first width.

In another example embodiment, an accessory for footwear including at least a projection is provided. The projection is L-shaped in cross-section and includes a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion.

In yet another example embodiment, an accessory for footwear is provided including at least a projection which is bulbous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of example embodiment flip-flops.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example embodiment strap.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example embodiment strap with an example embodiment flap.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of another example embodiment strap with an example embodiment flap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Footwear such as flip-flops 10 include a sole 12 and an upper section such as a strap 14 attached to the sole, as for example shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the strap is attached to the sole at opposite ends 16 and 18, and at a mid-location 20 via a connector 22, using methods well known in the art. The present disclosure is directed to footwear, such as for example, flip-flops with removable accessories and to the removable accessories for use with footwear such as flip-flops. In an example embodiment, the accessories include decorative flaps 24 that can be removably attached to the strap, as for example on either sides of the strap, as well as a decorative center piece 26 that that can removably be attached to the strap or to the connector 22. In an example embodiment, the accessories are all made from a flexible or elastic material such as a rubber type of material. Other materials may also be used in other example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the flip-flop straps are also made from a flexible elastic or rubber material. Other materials may also be used in other example embodiments.

In an example embodiment, the strap 14 includes perforations or openings 30 to accommodate projections 32, extending from each flap 24, as for example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In an example embodiment, the openings 30 are L-shaped in cross-section. In an example embodiment, the projections 32 have an L-shaped cross-section complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the openings 30. The projections are in an example embodiment, made from a flexible or elastic material, as for example a rubber material or a pliable material so that they can be flexed and squeezed through the openings 30. In an example embodiment, they are integrally formed with the strap and from the same material as the strap. In an example embodiment, the openings 30 include a first portion 34 that extends transversely through the entire thickness 35 of the strap 14, as well as a second portion 36 that extends transversely from the first portion and only through a portion of the thickness of the strap 14, as for example shown in FIG. 2. In this regard, a lip 38 is defined on the strap 14 and extends over the opening horizontal portion 36 of the opening, as for example shown in FIG. 2. In the shown example embodiment, the first portion extends generally perpendicularly relative to the strap and through the thickness of the strap, and the second portion extends generally perpendicularly from the first portion. In an example embodiment, the first potion extends vertically through the strap while the second portion extends horizontally from the first portion. The projection 32 also includes a first portion 40 and a second portion 42 extending transversely from the first portion. In the shown example embodiment, the projection first portion extends perpendicularly from a lower surface of the accessory and the projection second portion extends perpendicularly from the projection first portion. In an example embodiment, the projection first portion extends vertically and the projection second portion extends horizontally from the projection first portion. When the projection is pushed into the opening 30, the projection second portion 42 slides beneath the lip 38. In this regard, the lip 38 retains the projection within the opening. Because the projections in an example embodiment are flexible, they can be bent so as to be received into the opening 30. In an example embodiment, a tip portion 44 or each projection second portion is inserted first through its corresponding opening 30. Applicant has discovered that the flap is less likely to become disconnected—when the flip-flops are worn and an upper portion of a wearer's foot rubs against a lower surface of the strap 14 and a lower surface of the projections 32—When the tip portions 44 of the projections face toward the front of the flip-flop in a direction as shown by arrow A in FIGS. 1 and 3. In an example embodiment, the projections 32 are flush with a lower surface 46 of the strap 14 so as to not be noticed by the wearer of the flip-flop. In other words, a lower surface 47 of the projections is flush with the lower surface 46 of the strap when the flap is mounted on the strap. In another embodiment, the projections may not be flush. For example, they may not extend all the way to the lower surface 46 of the strap or they may extend beyond the lower surface 46 of the strap.

The projections of the flaps may be inserted into their corresponding openings in any order. Applicant has discovered that inserting the projections in series beginning with the most forward projection works well.

In another example embodiment, instead of L-shape openings, the strap 14 is provided with bulbous openings or depressions 48 which receive bulbous projections 50 extending from the flap 24 as for example shown in FIG. 4. The bulbous depressions 48 have a neck portion 51 from which extends a round or generally round larger sized portion 53. The two portions define a generally bulb like shape in cross-section. Each bulbous projection has a complementary shape to its corresponding bulbous depression and has a neck portion 55 and a larger portion 57 extending from the neck portion. When inserting the bulbous projection into the bulbous depression, the larger portion 57 of the projection is squeezed through the neck portion 51 of the depression. The larger portion 57 of each projection has a greater diameter or size than the neck portion of each corresponding depression. As such when the bulbous projection is fitted into a bulbous depression, the depression neck prevents the projection larger portion from being easily withdrawn from the depression. As can be seen with either example embodiments, the flap or other accessory can be pushed or snapped into place onto the strap and can be removed by pulling on the flap away from the strap. As discussed, in an example embodiment, the bulbous projections are made from a flexible or elastic material, as for example a rubber or a pliable material.

A central accessory or center piece, such as accessory 26 in one example embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, also includes a bulbous protrusion 52 that is received in a bulbous opening 54 formed in the connector 22.

Other shaped projections and depressions may be used in alternate embodiments to allow for the releasable connection of an accessory to a strap, or connector such as the connector of a flip-flop.

As can be seen with the example embodiments, a single pair of footwear such as flip-flops may be accessorized with different flaps having different designs, colors, etc., and/or different center pieces, and/or other accessories that can be easily connected to and easily removed from the flip-flop and which stay connected to the footwear when they are being worn and used.

While the example embodiments have been described in relation to flip-flops, it should be understood that the disclosed accessories may be used with other footwear as well for accessorizing the same. For example the accessories may be used with sandals. Moreover, the accessories may have other shapes. For example the flap may be rectangular and may include a plurality of projections arranged to cover an area. For example, the projections may form rows and columns.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A footwear comprising: an upper section for extending over a wearer's foot, said upper section having an opening; and an accessory having a projection received in the opening.
 2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises an L-shape in cross-section and wherein the opening comprises an L-shape in cross-section.
 3. The footwear of claim 2, the protrusion comprises a first portion extending transversely from a surface of the accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion, wherein the opening comprises a first portion extending through an entire thickness of the upper section and a second portion extending from the opening first portion and extending partially through said thickness of said upper section, wherein said protrusion second portion is received into said opening second portion.
 4. The footwear of claim 3, wherein said upper section comprises an upper surface opposite a lower surface, wherein said opening second section extends from said lower surface and does not extend to said upper surface and wherein said protrusion second section is generally flush with said lower surface.
 5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a bulbous shape and wherein the opening comprises a bulbous shape.
 6. The footwear of claim 1, further comprising a connector connecting the upper section to a sole, wherein the connector comprises an opening for receiving a projection from another accessory.
 7. The footwear of claim 6, wherein said another accessory projection comprises a bulbous shape in cross-section.
 8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein said another accessory projection comprises a neck portion comprising a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion comprising a second width greater than the first width, and wherein the connector opening comprises a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the connector opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, wherein the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the connector opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the connector opening, wherein the fourth width is greater than the first width.
 9. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper section is a strap.
 10. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the footwear is a flip-flop.
 11. A flip-flop comprising: a strap; a connector connecting the strap to a sole; and an accessory having a projection received in the opening.
 12. The flip-flop of claim 11, wherein the projection is bulbous comprising a neck portion comprising a first width and a larger portion extending from the neck portion comprising a second width greater than the first width, and wherein the opening comprises a neck portion having a third width and a larger portion extending from the opening neck portion having a fourth width greater than the third width, wherein the neck portion of the projection is received in the neck portion of the opening and the larger portion of the projection is received in the larger portion of the opening, wherein the fourth width is greater than the first width.
 13. An accessory for footwear comprising at least a projection wherein said at least a projection is L-shaped in cross-section and comprising a first portion extending transversely from a surface of said accessory and a second portion extending transversely from the first portion. 